Monthly Archives: May 2017

This weekend all the Provinces in South Africa came together to compete against each other to achieve the highest goal they can in their karate journey. More than 3000 competitors entered to compete for their SA JKA colours. Solis Ortus stand proud to have entered 41 competitors between the ages 6 and 52.

On Friday the event was opened with the Special needs division. What a privilege to be part of such incredible talent. They worked so hard to come and show off their karate. After many tears of joy, all three of Solis Ortus karatekas achieved their SA JKA colours. Congratulations to Pieter, Julia and James. We are extremely proud of you and wish you only success.

The karatekas had to face huge divisions but our karate kids excelled through every division. Many received medals and Solis Ortus wants to congratulate everyone. May today’s success be the beginning of tomorrow’s achievements. To those who did not receive any medals, remember you are already winners as it took guts and hard work to get there. The fact that you participated makes you a winner, the fact that you put your feet onto the tatami’s (mats) makes you a winner. A medal cannot determine a winner from a looser it makes you strong in character and gives you a vision to strive higher. Keep on practising next year is on our doorsteps.

“We may encounter many defeats but we must NOT be defeated.”Maya Angelou

On Saturday the Elite section came from all over the country to compete. Wow, what a day. Many karatekas prepared with a purpose not only to receive their SA JKA colours, but to be part of the 14th Gichin Funakoshi Cup in Ireland in August 2017. The quote “No guts, no glory” really came to impress itself amongst these competitors.

With mammoth divisions and hour after hour of hardships the victory came as a final demand. Solis Ortus wants to congratulate Sandra Erasmus, Elmien Viljoen and PW Pentz for qualifying for this prestigious event. Sensei Eugene is incredibly proud of you and wish you all the best. The sky is the limit.

Apart from our International stars Solis Ortus did well in the Elite group. To all the karatekas who received their SA JKA colours, well done. Solis Ortus cannot stress enough what a proud dojo we are of everyone’s achievement.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
Teddy Roosevelt

Sensei Eugene traveled to Harties on the 16th of May during the morning to teach some brave agents from Remax a few self defense moves. We are blindly unaware of the dangers each agent face when showing a house to potential buyers. You never know who the “client” may be and it’s best to know how to protect yourself, or at least, get away unharmed!!

For many, the opportunity to become a ‘Black-belt’ still holds great allure, and achieving the rank is seen to be the first pinnacle of the karate journey. For many beginners, it is a goal set in their minds when they first enter the dojo.

Becoming a Black Belt is not only to go through the ranks and get it. No, it is a desire, a lot of compromises, hard work, sacrifices, sense of purpose, wisdom, perseverance and most of all determination. There are great misconceptions when this is your only karate goal. Many think this is the highest they can get. But this is when karate only starts. All the coloured belts you have achieved are only the preparation to actually start your karate journey.

A new journey has begun for two Solis Ortus karatekas who achieved their Shodan in May 2017. Josh and Estiaan, congratulations, well deserved. You have worked so hard with determination and perseverance, dedication, constant preparation to reap such honourable rewards. Solis Ortus welcomes you as Shodans entering your new exciting karate journey as 1st Black Belts.

From now on you will understand the meaning of the 5 maxims in Japanese and feel a shiver down your spine. You will feel proud to be a karateka and have to pinch yourself when you look down and realise you wear a Black Belt around your waste. It will take time to get used to it, because the honour will humble you.

A quote by Renzo Gracie describes it best: “A black belt is a white belt who never quits!” this speaks of character.

Then suddenly reality will kicks in and you realise you know nothing. Never stop your karate journey even if you think that you have achieved your highest goal. Don’t be part of the statistics of “1-2 of every 100 students reach Black Belt and those only 1 out of every 1 000 achieves 2nd Dan”.Mas Oyama

After a cold rainy winter’s day, Solis Ortus karatekas did well at the Bulls Challenge. To everyone who competed well done; and to those who received medals congratulations. Solis Ortus is extremely proud of each and every one of you. We had 9 karatekas who competed of which 5 have medalled. Well done!

Solis Ortus wants to congratulate PW Pentz and Milan Kruger with their exceptional performance in kumite at the Arnold Classic Tournament. They both achieved bronze medals. Well done guys. Solis Ortus is proud of you and wishes you all the best for any upcoming tournaments.

Solis Ortus wants to congratulate all our karatekas who competed this weekend. You all worked so hard for this moment to achieve your highest expectations. Well done. To Solis Ortus you are all CHAMPIONS!

Solis Ortus did exceptionally well this weekend at the JKA Gauteng Tournament held at the Standard Bank Arena, Johannesburg on Friday and Saturday. Our contestants were well prepared and their spirits were on a high.

On Friday our Novice Champs (White to Red Belt and Disabled) arrived bright and early at the arena to face their challenge to become National champs in May. They were not deterred by die traffic which we all experienced travelling to the venue. They arrived ready and amped!

Some of the divisions were very big, but our contestants had the heart of a tiger. Competition was tough but with all the preparation and hard work the results were outstanding.

There were 97 divisions in which Solis Ortus participated. The overall standard of the tournament was extremely high and our karatekas never fail to impress.

Solis Ortus had 38 karatekas registered in the Novice and Disabled divisions. The first 8 places secured a place to compete for SA JKA National colours in May.

It is amazing to see how each karateka has grown to become the best they can be. They have so much heart in what they do and accomplished their highest expectations. Sensei Eugene is extremely proud of every one of you.

On Saturday the Elite Junior to U/21 and Senior Elite black belt divisions took the floor with a roar. The standard was exceptionally high and some divisions took almost two hours to complete. Solis Ortus contestants persevered and came out on top of each division.

Red belts who aimed to qualify for International participation have to enter the Elite Section at the Provincial Tournament and the National Tournament, and need to be graded to brown belt before the 14th Gichin Funakoshi Cup (JKA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS) in August 2017, if they qualify for the team.

To ensure the selection of the strongest possible team for the 14th Gichin Funakoshi Cup, to be held in Limerick, Ireland on 18th – 20th August 2017, kumite will be judged on a repecharge system.

Solis Ortus had 15 karatekas registered in the Elite division. The first 8 places secured a place to compete for SA JKA National colours in May.

Good luck to all our karatekas who qualified to go through to SA JKA Nationals in May. Train hard, improve yourself and reach your dream. “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.”